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zigzagged my way through the building to find my comfortable room. I sent my parents a quick e-mail telling them I was safe and sound and would be in touch again soon. I was too tired to do anything else, even look out the windows that probably had a great view of the market. I noticed that it was only around noon when I put my head on the pillow.
    I didn’t wake again until my alarm sounded the next morning at five.

 
    FOUR
    He was all elbows. And long legs. Tall. Aristocratic came to mind, but I wasn’t sure if that was because of the way he spoke—so beautifully accented and toned—or because of the way he carried his height.
    Edwin MacAlister welcomed me with a hug, exclamations of how happy he was I’d made it in one piece, and a box of pastries from the bakery next door. I wasn’t hungry and even a French pastry that had been created a mere North Sea away from France couldn’t convince my taste buds to come back to life. I nibbled on something with lots of pastry cream, but I didn’t really taste it.
    I was rested, but deeply nervous.
    We’d gone directly to the table in the back, where Hamlet and Rosie both veered by to grab a pastry before moving on to their projects. Rosie, much less distraught than the day before, wore one of her bright red scarves around her neck. I didn’t sense a good moment to ask her if she’d visited the man in the hospital but I hoped to later. Hamlet rearranged items on the table and placed some pens in a short, wide drawer on the other side of it. I gathered that this was his work space, but he didn’t mind clearing away a few items to make way for the pastry box. He wore old, faded jeans and a white shirt that tied loosely at the neck. Even when he wasn’t dressed for a performance, it seemed he held somewhat true to Shakespearean characters.
    I might have been watching Hamlet too closely, looking for the strain I thought I’d seen the day before, but I wondered if I caught a tense moment between him and Edwin. They greeted each other tersely and with a too quick release. However, I was now so nervous that I knew I still wasn’t in any shape to accurately read what might be going on. I wished my instincts would stop nudging me to pay attention.
    I’d woken up a wreck. It had started with the vexing realization that I’d slept almost seventeen hours without stirring once; I wasn’t even sure I’d rolled over. That was a lot of sleep, a lot of time to lose. I’d never experienced jet lag, but if the hours I’d spent in a passed-out state had taken care of it like it seemed they had I’d be good to go. Once I relaxed a little.
    Then the realities set in. I was starting my new job today. I was meeting my boss. I’d uprooted my life in one of the biggest ways possible. What if I didn’t like Edwin or he didn’t like me?
    We’d arrived at the shop at the same time, and after the hug and friendly greeting, he held the door open and signaled me inside with the pastry box. We’d had nothing but an easy, cordial conversation, but I still couldn’t quite relax.
    â€œToday, Delaney, you will learn about one of the tasks I would like for you tae take over from me, very soon if possible, but it’s a big task so you’ll just need tae be perfectly honest with me as tae when you’re ready.”
    â€œOf course,” I said.
    â€œWe’re going tae an auction. I’ll someday give you the leeway tae bid for me.”
    â€œI’ll get to spend your money?” I smiled. Truthfully, the idea of spending someone else’s money didn’t sit quite right with me and my Midwestern make-your-own-way attitude, but I figured I needed to show some confidence.
    â€œAye, that’s correct,” he said without any hesitation at all. “I’m old. I’m not sick. In fact, I’m in the best of health, but I believe it’s better tae be prepared than tae